5 brain hacks to fight with procrastination (and increase productivity)

When you see someone doing something and getting success that you once dreamt of, most of the time, an instant reflexive question comes to mind: “Why not me?” Try to throw a counter question: “Am I putting in the effort this work demands?” The answer will be a skeptical ‘No’ most of the time. Not necessarily all the work we do in the daily course of our lives is something we like — we do it either because we are forced to or because it promises to be beneficial in the future. Sometimes we end up convincing our brain that ‘It’s okay if I’m not able to do it’ and end up being on the losing side of the weighing machine. A research study published by Harvard Medical School shows that our brain has the ability to learn and grow as we age — the process is known as brain plasticity — but for it to do so, we have to train it on a regular basis.

Here are 5 ways you can train your brain to do things that it doesn't really like but are extremely important for your betterment and growth:

Change your outlook toward the task. Instead of thinking, “I have to do it,” think, “What good changes will this task bring to my life?” How you see and approach the task controls a huge share of your success. Instead of seeing it as a chore, see it as something that adds value to your life.
If you dislike waking up early in the morning, instead of thinking, “Is it that big a deal if I don’t wake up early?” remind yourself: “Waking up early means I can get more work done in the morning and reduce stress in the second half of the day.”

Train your brain to dedicate a specific time for the task and use that specific time as a routine every day. Initially, it’ll feel difficult, but gradually it’ll train your mind in such a way that you’ll automatically feel guilty if that particular time is not being utilised for the staple task. Sometimes, because of not having a dedicated time for a task, our brain pushes it away more, and we end up not doing it properly.
If doing research work feels challenging, try to dedicate a specific time (for example, every evening after coming back from school or college) and sit with that task for 30 minutes. Knowing there’s a set end point helps your brain relax and get started: “Just a matter of 30 minutes.” This technique is the foundation of the Pomodoro Method.

Sometimes, when looking at a huge task, our brain starts procrastinating, and we end up not doing it just by looking at it at first glance. Without feeling overwhelmed, break large, intimidating tasks into small, manageable sections or steps — focus only on the next ‘block,’ not the whole mountain.
If you need to clean your messy house, focus only on the living room first. Even within the living room, just start with one corner.

Sometimes, one becomes so engrossed with the end goal that they forget to enjoy the process. The end goal must be grand, but every little success is something that one achieves with their hard work. Try to maintain a track of your progress visually or through writing. It gives you a sense of achievement and keeps motivation up.

Losing 10 kgs of weight can be your end goal, but that’s not going to happen overnight. Try to keep documentation of the process. Losing 1 kg may sound like a small achievement initially, but that is the building block for your 10 kg weight-loss dream.

Cooking after a tiring day feels like a task, but not having an option makes it more difficult to do. Before start preparing that meal, visualize yourself calmly eating that food and going to sleep after having a minimal yet fulfilling meal — sheer satisfaction, right?
By picturing success ahead of time, you prime your brain to expect accomplishment and satisfaction, making it easier to start and maintain effort. This is the power of visualisation. Imagine yourself in a certain position or doing a certain thing that you actually want to — this imagination will make one work hard to achieve it and get the feeling of success.